The challenge of testing Nigerians for COVID-19 - The Nation Nigeria

examines the process of testing suspected cases

However, the World Health Organization has continued to emphasize the critically important role ‘testing’ plays in curbing the spread and transmission of the COVID-19. In fact, it describes it as a game-changer. Also, South Africa with an estimated population of about 59 million people, and recording its first index case of COVID-19 on March 4 , has tested 31,963 persons for COVID-19. This is according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in SA.

However, a lot of people have heaped up complaints about the effectiveness of the testing procedures and arrangements by the NCDC, as they either do not get a response through the lines or are declined access to get tested by the NCDC representative on the line based on technical grounds. Using the case definition for determining those to get tested may also not be as effective after all.

With these six labs not evenly spread across the six geo-political zones in the country, the government might as well be on their toes to scale up the process of getting more centres that can carry out such specialised tests. So, depending on the result, the person is either advised to complete the 14-days isolation process or is immediately taken to one of the isolation centres in the country if the result is positive.revealed that the NCDC also engages motorbikes to bring in samples. The Nation reporter witnessed this as a motorcyclist carried a box containing sample into the NCDC National Reference Laboratory , Gaduwa, Abuja.

“We do not have enough health workers, therefore, if we are overwhelmed by the increasing numbers, it will be catastrophic. “In as much as we must maintain standards, and it is desirable to have more labs which is the normal thing, but it may be difficult for us to have more because of the emergency situation in our hands”.

“We are aware of the advertisement of a few rapid serological test kits being touted for the diagnosis of COVID-19, and some are already showing interest.

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